Sacrifices for Lent

What are you giving up for Lent? Adam asked of Eve.
Well, Eve said. I am thinking I should give up apples.
And what about you, husband of mine?
Adam replied, I think I am going to give up taking advice from you.
What are you giving up for Lent?
Abel asked his brother Cain?
Cain replied, I am going to try to give up my anger
Lest in a weak moment, I injure someone I love.
What are you giving up for Lent?
Jacob asked his twin, Esau.
Apparently my birthright, little brother of mine.
What are you giving up for Lent?
Moses asked of Aaron?
I am going to give up worshiping false gods
Especially the golden calf variety.
What about you? Aaron asked Moses in return.
I am giving up my need to see the promised land.
What are you giving up for lent?
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar asked Job.
I am giving up trying to understand the mind of God.
What are you giving up for Lent? I asked of Mary.
She whispered her response so softly
I had to move in close to her to hear her hushed reply.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The other day, I was talking to a friend about another friend, who is a Wiccan. My friend is into yoga and meditation and she said she was surprised that wiccans meditate, just like Christians do. We kind of ended our conversation with the realization that all religions have a lot in common.

Later on, I came across this examination of conscience on the Defend the Catholic Faith website. It's quite comprehensive. I glanced at the list of sins that broke the first commandment. I immediately recalled my conversation with my friend where we concluded that wicca is on par with Christianity. Yikes! What an idiot I am! I knew it's not; what was I thinking?

And scandal! Scandal is an attitude or behavior that leads one to evil. Hence! That's a sin against the fifth commandment. Who knew?

And "adulation!" I didn't even know what that was. That's being an accomplice in another's vices or grave sins. Ah.....

My neighborhood once was a haven for families. When my children were young gangs roamed our backyards and walked in and out of our kitchens. Literally, there was a path in the hedges between the house next door and mine. The voices of children echoed in the air. Bus stops had lines of children queuing. My children had a wonderful neighborhood to grow up in. They and I have good memories. That was then; this is now.

For a long time, I've wondered where the children went. I see plenty of young people jogging. I also see many couples, also singles, walking dogs. The thought has occurred to me that people aren't having children nowadays, but rather they're pet owners. Pets are satisfying the human need to love and nurture.

My thoughts were reinforced today by the article, "Fur Babies," in Breakpoint. John Stonestreet articulates what I've long thought. He calls it "pet parenthood," or "fur babies." Young people today opt to care…

Faith is a Lay Dominican with a dual apostolate of cyberministry and prison ministry. She blogs here about her "cloistered brothers," her thoughts, spirituality, prayer, and an occasional poem or two.
She also blogs at http://www.21stcenturydominican.com/ She also updates her chapter's blog, Our Lady of Mercy Chapter,http://sites.google.com/site/ourladyofmercychapter/
Lastly, but in no way, of lesser importance, Faith is the general editor of ELUMEN, the internet newsletter for Lay Dominicans in the Eastern Province of St. Joseph. http://www.3op.org/
To subscribe to ELUMEN, contact prouille_1216@comcast.net
May all I do be for the greater glory of God.